Last night, I had the pleasure of watching the romantic musical ‘An Officer and a Gentleman’ at Milton Keynes theatre. If you love the 80’s this show is for you! It showcased many 80’s classics for everyone to enjoy from “Livin’ on a Prayer” – Bon Jovi to “Material Girl” – Madonna, causing the audience to create turbulence in the theatre.

The story is about a young man, Zack Mayo (played by Luke Baker), driven by his dream to soar the skies, and he must complete his training to become an officer. With the rigorous training program pushing him to his limits, he finds solace in the tough guidance of Gunnery Sergeant Foley (played by Jamal Kane Crawford). As he navigates the challenges with his close pal, son of an admiral, Sid Worley (played by Paul French), he also finds comfort in his blossoming romance with Paula Pokrifki (played by Georgia Lennon), a bright and ambitious young woman who has a passion for nursing.

We also meet Casey Seegar, one of the only women on the programme, and desperate to fly jets who goes tremendous lengths to earn her wings.

Act I serves as the foundation, laying the groundwork for what’s to come, but it’s in Act II where the narrative truly flourishes. I felt the story truly start to come alive in Act II, the energy ramped up – you can feel the excitement building, the characters evolving, and the plot thickening.

Together, they are a strong and talented cast. They seamlessly make singing and performing military exercises look like a walk in the park. Baker, French, Lennon and Long all stood out as outstanding performers which was made apparent when they performed their solo numbers.

Georgia Lennon as Paula Pokrifki & Luke Baker as Zack Mayo.  Credit: Marc Brenner

Luke’s stamina to perform while managing to show us his bare knuckle push ups made it look effortless. He hardly broke a sweat!

Georgina’s rendition of ‘Alone’ is truly mesmerising, demonstrating exceptional vocal prowess and emotional depth. Her impeccable execution of every note in this ballad is nothing short of extraordinary, leaving listeners spellbound.

The whole cast were brilliant, for me Paul French is the one that stood out. From start to finish, he captivated me. His performance of ‘Family Man’ is a stand-out moment in the production, you can’t help but feel the weight of Sid’s sorrow.

The ensemble dance numbers serve as the heartbeat of a show. Joanne Goodwin’s choreography not only showcased the exceptional talent of the performers but also create a collective experience that draws the audiences in. The military routines are striking and there is a fight scene very well synchronised with dramatic music, lights and skilful choreography making it feel intense.

Overall, this show has an incredibly talented cast and is jam-packed with toe-tapping tunes that had the audience up on their feet during the final bows makes for an absolute blast of an evening! If you’re in the mood for a good old-fashioned romcom musical, look no further.